Moving into a retirement village is an important financial decision and lifestyle choice.

Benefits can include a home that is easily maintained, in a private and secure environment with people of a similar age. However, retirement village residents are not automatically entitled to aged care services, even if these are on site.

Prospective residents should explore different villages and learn about the costs involved. We’ve provided information about moving into, living in and leaving a retirement village. Retirement village operators should also refer to important registration requirements below.

Improved retirement village living in NSW

Retirement village laws in NSW protect more than 55,000 residents across 640 registered retirement villages.

On 30 July 2017, the NSW Government announced a four-point plan for retirement villages in NSW which includes:

revising the Retirement Villages Regulation 2009, including changes that will require greater transparency around fees and charges in contracts

introducing an online calculator to help prospective residents, and their families, better understand the estimated costs of living in a retirement village

Retirement villages register

Land being used as a retirement village must be registered with NSW Land Registry Services (NSW LRS). Operators must notify the Registrar General in writing that the land is used as a retirement village by lodging a Request form 11RN. The Request form must be lodged with NSW LRS before entering into any village contracts with residents.

Upon registration, the relevant details become part of the public register of retirement villages available on the Accommodation registers page. Prospective residents can use the register to locate a village in the area they are considering.

Useful contacts

Seniors Rights Service

Provides free, confidential advocacy, advice, education and legal services to older people in NSW. This includes advice to residents of retirement villages about retirement village contracts and other disputes. This service covers: consumer rights, human rights, social security/welfare, power of attorney and guardianship.